NORTH AMERICAN

NATIVE ORCHID JOURNAL

Volume 11 2005

In this issue:
AN ALBINO ADDER’S MOUTH FROM
CAPE COD, MASSACHUSETTS
TWO WEEKS AND 39 ORCHIDS IN WESTERN
NEWFOUNDLAND
DID YOU KNOW??
Some North American Orchid Factoids
JEWELS IN THE MOST UNLIKELY PLACES
And from the past…
SPIRANTHES PARKSII– NAVASOTA LADIES’-
TRESSES
The North American Native Orchid Journal (ISSN 1084-7332) is an
annual publication devoted to promoting interest and knowledge
of the native orchids of North America. A limited number of the
print version of each issue of the Journal are available upon request
and electronic versions are available to all interested persons or
institutions free of charge. The Journal welcomes article of any
nature that deal with native or introduced orchids that are found
growing wild in North America, primarily north of Mexico,
although articles of general interest concerning Mexican species
will welcome.

Requests for either print or electronic copies should be sent to the

editor:
Paul Martin Brown, 10896 SW 90th Terrace, Ocala, FL 34481 or
via email at naorchid@aol.com.
 NORTH AMERICAN
NATIVE ORCHID JOURNAL
Volume 11 2005

CONTENTS
NOTES FROM THE EDITOR
3
AN ALBINO ADDER’S MOUTH FROM
CAPE COD, MASSACHUSETTS
Paul Martin Brown
4
TWO WEEKS AND 39 ORCHIDS IN WESTERN
NEWFOUNDLAND
6
Paul Martin Brown
From the Past…
requested reprints

SPIRANTHES PARKSII CORRELL –

NAVASOTA LADIES’-TRESSES
Cliff Pelchat
23
JEWELS IN THE MOST UNLIKELY PLACES
The Slow Empiricist
34
DID YOU KNOW??
Some North American Orchid Factoids
Paul Martin Brown
39
A CASE FOR EVOLUTION
Stan Folsom
44
 Unless otherwise credited, all drawings in this issue are by Stan Folsom
The opinions expressed in the Journal are those of the authors. Scientific
articles may be subject to peer review and popular articles will be examined
for both accuracy and scientific content.
Volume 11 pages 1-49; issued October 30, 2005.
Copyright 2005 by the North American Native Orchid Journal
Cover: Liparis loeselii by Stan Folsom
 NOTES FROM THE EDITOR
Although a smaller issue than the previous ones the variety
of articles will interest native orchid enthusiasts. The 2004 field
season was a banner year for native orchids with the rediscovery
of four long-lost species (see p. 43) and in 2005 the publication of
Wild Orchids of South Carolina by Jim Fowler and the updated and
expanded edition of Wild Orchids of Florida by Paul Martin Brown
and Stan Folsom scheduled for release in late November.

Note to the reprint and electronic edition. Did You Know?? on

page 39 has been updated to August 2006 for these editions.
Paul Martin Brown, editor
 Brown: AN ALBINO ADDER’S MOUTH
FROM CAPE COD, MASSACHUSETTS

AN ALBINO ADDER’S MOUTH

FROM CAPE COD, MASSACHUSETTS
Paul Martin Brown

Malaxis bayardii, Bayard’s adder’s-mouth, is one of the rarest orchids to

be found in the northeastern United States. Long suffering under confusion
and synonymy, it was revalidated by Catling in 1991. In Barnstable County,
Massachusetts, where there were several older records for Malaxis bayardii, there
is a current colony of upwards to 500 plants. The number seen vary from year
to year but the area is (somewhat) managed and the plants are very happy. In
July of 2005 Emily Kellogg observed several plants that lacked all pigment –
true albinos – not just white flowers.

Malaxis bayardii forma kelloggiae P.M. Brown form. nov.

Forma floribus et folia alba conspecibus diversa.

Differing from the species in that the entire plant, leaves, stem, and flowers, are
white

TYPE: U.S.A.: Massachusetts, Barnstable County. Sandwich, growing along old

woodroad near Peter’s Pond. 4 July 2005 (HOLOTYPE: photograph E. Kellogg,
North American Native Orchid Journal 11: 5. 2005).

ENTYMOLOGY: Named for Emily Kellogg, who first observed the form

Although very rare in North America this lack of pigmentation does

occur in Epipactis helleborine (Brown, 2004), Platanthera aquilonis (Brown, 2000;
Light, 1989) and P. brevifolia (Wm. Jennings, pers. comm.) and may very well
randomly occur in other species. Such mycotrophic genera as Hexalectris and
Corallorhiza also have white plants but often the flowers have pale yellow
markings. Cypripedium acaule has been found with white leaves although the
flowers were typical pink and this condition does not appear to persist annually.

4
 Brown: AN ALBINO ADDER’S MOUTH
FROM CAPE COD, MASSACHUSETTS

The only genus and species in North America with normally white plants
lacking in all obvious chlorophyll is Cephelanthera austiniae of the Pacific
Northwest. After Kellogg’s initial observation additional plants were found by
Brian Cassie and Brian Podlisny and brought to the author’s attention. Unlike
some aberrant forms these white plants were pollinated and set seed. Plants of
Malaxis bayardii flower from late June into August, and appear to be in flower
much long as the floral parts do not with rapidly as do those on Malaxis unifolia.

Literature Cited:
Catling, P.M. 1991. Systematics of Malaxis bayardii and M. unifolia.. Lindleyana 6:3-23.
Light, M.S.. and M. MacConnail. 1989. Albinism in Platanthera hyperborea. Lindleyana 4(3):
158-60.
Acknowledgments:
In addition to Emily Kellogg, Brian Cassie, and Brian Podlisny , Kent Perkins (FLAS)
provide literature information.

Malaxis bayardii forma kelloggiae

Barnstable County, MA
Photo by Brian Podlisny

5
 Brown: TWO WEEKS AND 39 ORCHIDS IN WESTERN
NEWFOUNDLAND

Looking Ahead to Volume 12 2006

WILD ORCHIDS IN THE 21ST CENTURY:

past, present, and future field guides and floras on
North American native orchids

A (NEW) NAME FOR AN (OLD) HYBRID

And a great deal more……

6
 Brown: TWO WEEKS AND 39 ORCHIDS IN WESTERN
NEWFOUNDLAND

TWO WEEKS AND 39 ORCHIDS IN WESTERN

NEWFOUNDLAND

Paul Martin Brown

One of the truly rewarding trips to be taken in North

America is that of two weeks along the western and northwestern
coast of Newfoundland, the island portion of the Province of
Newfoundland and Labrador, in eastern Canada. Newfoundland
is a large island that is the easternmost outpost of Canada and is
often known as "The Rock" because of the minimal soils over the
bedrock that comprises the island. Coastal northwestern
Newfoundland is essentially limestone and often has large
exposed barrens whereas many of the southwestern areas are large
open bogs and marshes. The Appalachian Mountains of North
America have their northern terminus in Newfoundland and the
spectacular Gros Morne National Park is one of the gems of the
national park system.
Roads are few, but for the most part in excellent repair and
practically all of the prime orchid sites are roadside areas or quite
nearby. Getting there requires either flying into St. John's and
renting a vehicle and then driving across the entire island, which
can take more than a day, or starting at North Sydney, Nova
Scotia and taking the ferry across to Channel-Port aux Basques on
the southwestern tip of the island. I find this preferable, as it is the
starting point for the trip and it takes less driving time than
crossing back and forth to St. John's. Regularly scheduled air
transportation is available to Sydney, as well as car rentals, and it is
only a short drive to North Sydney to the ferry terminal.

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Brown: TWO WEEKS AND 39 ORCHIDS IN WESTERN
NEWFOUNDLAND

Some Newfoundland Favorites!

Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens ‘planipetalum’ ecotype
Calypso bulbosa var. americana forma rosea
Cypripedium reginae
Pseudorchis straminea
Dactylorhiza majalis subsp. praetermissa
Platanthera hookeri forma abbreviata
Platanthera grandiflora forma albiflora

8
Brown: TWO WEEKS AND 39 ORCHIDS IN WESTERN
NEWFOUNDLAND

9
 Brown: TWO WEEKS AND 39 ORCHIDS IN WESTERN
NEWFOUNDLAND

The ideal time to go is in early July when the northern

spring is just finishing up in the southern areas and when you
return two weeks later summer will be in full swing. Our trip
starts in the port town of Channel-Port aux Basques. After leaving
the village Route 1 is the only choice for a trip north. Shortly you
will be within large open boggy areas, which abound with Arethusa
bulbosa, the dragon's-mouth orchid. Large clumps of showy
bright pink flowers on 6-8" stems are easy to find along the old
railroad line that is now a hiking trail. Both the white-flowered
forma albiflora and the very rare lilac blue flowered forma
subcaerulea can be found here. This will not be the last of the
Arethusa that you will see, but these are by far the easiest to get to.
Only a few kilometers north is the entrance to J.T. Cheeseman
Provincial Park. Be sure to visit the park and walk the nature trail
watching for Cypripedium acaule, the pink lady's-slipper, or
moccasin flower still in bloom. This is the only area where you
are sure to still find this spring beauty in flower at this time.
Occasionally the white-flowered form, forma albiflorum may be
seen. When you return two weeks later this trail will be your last
stop and will have many orchids in flower including Goodyera
repens, lesser rattlesnake orchis; Goodyera tesselata, checkered
rattlesnake orchis; Liparis loeselii, Loesel's twayblade or fen
orchis; Listera cordata, heart-leaved twayblade, Platanthera
blephariglottis, northern white fringed orchis; Gymnadeniopsis
clavellata var. ophioglossoides, northern club-spur orchis; P. dilatata,
tall white northern bog orchis; P. lacera, green fringed orchis
or ragged orchis; P. orbiculata, pad-leaved orchis and its
ecological dwarf forma lehorsii; P. psycodes, small purple fringed
orchis. often with the frequent forma albiflora; P. xandrewsii,
Andrews' hybrid fringed orchis; Pogonia ophioglossoides, rose
pogonia; and Spiranthes romanzoffiana, hooded ladies'-tresses.
If you have not had enough of the local bogs as you drive
northward you will soon come to an enormous area on the right
call Blow Me Down, near a marked area called The Tolt. It was
here that the trains were blown of the track by the winter winds.

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 Brown: TWO WEEKS AND 39 ORCHIDS IN WESTERN
NEWFOUNDLAND

Again, the dragon's mouth is scattered throughout the bog and

this time accompanied by both Pogonia ophioglossoides, rose
pogonia and Calopogon tuberosus, common grass-pink just
starting to flower. If these two are not quite out yet do not despair
as you will have thousands of them further north.
A leisurely drive north will take you to Corner Brook, home of
Sir Wilfred Grenfell College, and a bustling northern city. Many
good accommodations and restaurants are to be found here. After
a restful night, the mornings' journey will continue northward
towards Rocky Harbour and Gros Morne National Park. In Deer
Lake you will take Route 430 north. It is advisable to drive directly
to Rocky Harbour, get settled, for you will want several days here,
and then plan your trips in the area. Comfortable half and full day
trips may be made to many of the nature trails within the National
Park and good maps and directions can be found at the park
headquarters. Orchids can be found on most all of the trails but
the two major orchid-laden areas at the Lomond Trail off of
Route 131 west of Wiltondale (you passed it on the way here) and
the lower elevation section of the Gros Morne Trail.
Accessed by an excellent boardwalk and trail The Lomond
Trail has one of the largest populations of the utterly spectacular
Cypripedium reginae, the showy lady's-slipper with it's often 2 and
3 flowered stems with large pink and white slippers growing 75
cm tall! It is estimated that there are over 25,000 plants in this
swamp. Scattered along the trail and in the woodland beyond the
swamp are excellent stands of Corallorhiza maculata var. maculata,
spotted coralroot, with both the forma flavida and forma rubra; C.
maculata var. occidentalis, western spotted coralroot; C. striata,
striped coralroot (a recent find and so far only in the striking
forma eburnea); C. trifida, early coralroot; Cypripedium parviflorum
var. pubescens, large yellow lady's-slipper; Listera convallarioides,
broad-lipped twayblade; L. cordata, heart-leaved twayblade;
Platanthera huronensis, green bog orchis; P. aquilonis, northern
green bog orchis; P. macrophylla, Goldie's pad-leaved orchis; P.
orbiculata, pad-leaved orchis; P. psycodes, small purple fringed
orchis; and Malaxis unifolia, green adder's-mouth.

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 Brown: TWO WEEKS AND 39 ORCHIDS IN WESTERN
NEWFOUNDLAND

The main hiking trail to Gros Morne, just south of Rocky

Harbour, offers many good orchids along the trailsides of the
lower slope. If one is physically able, the entire hike to the top is
spectacular, but long and very arduous towards the summit. The
broad tablelands on top afford an unparallelled view of eastern
Canada. Starting right in the parking lot watch the trailsides
carefully for twayblades, both the broad-lipped and Listera
auriculata, auricled twayblade, as well as the heart-leaved,
rattlesnake orchids, pad leaved orchises and many coralroots. The
trail is well maintained and is a series of open footpaths,
boardwalks, and stairways.
The real gem of this area is the Rocky Harbour Bog. It is a bit
difficult to find and unmarked, but if you make inquiries at the
National Park headquarters they may be able to point out the
entry access along the highway. After you climb up (yes, the bog is
above the road and is actually a raised heath) and into the bog you
will find endless acres of orchids, carnivorous plants, and other
spectacular wildflowers. All three of the bog orchids, Calopogon,
Pogonia, and Arethusa can be found here and in all of their color
forms. The white fringed orchis also occurs here a bit later in the
summer. I expect there are in excess of 100,000 ochid plants
growing within the Rocky Harbour bog!
If time permits be sure to take a ride to the Tablelands near
Trout River. Although not an orchid area, the expansive
serpentine barrens offer an unusual collection of highly
specialized plants and scenery.
These first few days have been but an introduction to the
orchid wonders of Newfoundland. Now for the serious orchid
hunting! About an hour or so north of Rocky Harbour you will
come to Bellburn flats area and the Table Point Reserve, near an
old grass airstrip. This is one of the premier orchid sites on the
island. You can easily pull off onto the access road and start to
explore. The brilliant yellow patches you see scattered throughout
the flats are those of the large yellow lady's-slipper, Cypripedium
parviflorum var. pubescens. They occur here in the thousands. The
plants appear to be only a few inches tall, but much of their stems

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 Brown: TWO WEEKS AND 39 ORCHIDS IN WESTERN
NEWFOUNDLAND

are within the dense dwarf shrub layer. You will see great
variation within these plants. The extreme variation was originally
described var. planipetalum, having broad, flat petals rather than
slender twisted petals. Recent work has demonstrated that this
growth form is an extreme expression of habit and not consistent
from year to year or even with a given clump. Nevertheless it is
the most sought after form by most photographers. Nestled deep
within the shrub layer will be a few scattered plants of Platanthera
hookeri, Hooker's orchis, in its dwarf form, forma abbreviata.
Several species of orchids had named variations described from
Newfoundland, Some of these are extreme expressions as in the
flat-petalled yellow lady's-slipper while other are ecological
dwarves. This form of Hooker's orchid is one of the latter as is
Platanthera orbiculata, pad-leaved orchis, forma lehorsii to be found
primarily in the southwestern headlands.
Your next stop will be at Plum Point, Make
reservations early at Plum Point Motel and Cabins, for it is just
about the only place to stay in northwestern Newfoundland that is
suitable for your exploring purposes. Plan several days here, as
there are many full day trips to be made. After getting settled and
consulting the maps these are the places you will want to visit.
1. Port au Choix National Park for the hundreds of yellow
lady 'slippers and broad-lipped twayblades. It is here that
you will start to see one of Newfoundland's orchid
specialties, Pseudorchis straminea. One of the rarest orchids in
North America, it is locally abundant from here north to
Cape Norman. On The way back to Plum Point be sure to
stop off at Reef's Harbour and search for the many Malaxis
brachypoda, white adder's-mouth and the unusual forma
bifolia that abound in the grassy slopes by the boat
launching area.
• Cape Norman and Cook's Harbour on Route 435 is the
site of the northernmost lighthouse on the island the broad
open tundra-like flats often have a variety of orchids
nestled within them. Watch for the many other spectacular
wildflowers as well. Icebergs are regularly seen here.

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 Brown: TWO WEEKS AND 39 ORCHIDS IN WESTERN
NEWFOUNDLAND

• Burnt Cape, across from Cape Norman, is one of the all-

time favorite places to explore. From the tiny town of
Raleigh on Route 437 cross the causeway on to Burnt
Island and drive to your right out to the Cape. The large
cigar-shaped island is nearly barren of tress and sliced with
deep ravines that run the length. The gravel roads are good
and travel is easy. Towards the end of the island, at a picnic
area that is just opposite the town of Raleigh on the
mainland, is the real attraction - Calypso bulbosa var.
americana, eastern fairy-slipper, and the type locality for
the forma rosea. You have to search carefully and watch
your step in and around the ravines but within the sides of
them, and occasionally on the top edges, are to be found
the calypsos. Other species that are scattered on the cape
include Coeloglossum viride var. viride, northern bracted
green orchis; Corallorhiza trifida, early coralroot; Goodyera
repens, lesser rattlesnake orchis; Listera borealis, northern
twayblade; L. cordata, heart-leaved twayblade;
Gymnadeniopsis clavellata var. ophioglossoides, northern club-
spur orchis; P. obtusata, blunt-leaved rein orchis forma
collectanea; and Pseudorchis straminea, Newfoundland orchis.
Several interesting and unusual ferns can also be found
here and the whale watching is excellent!
• Watts Point Ecological Reserve - this is the only out of
the way stop that is recommended. Driving north when
route 430 turns east at Eddies Cove continue for 2-3 km to
the wide-open barrens of the preserve. Exploring areas on
both sides of the road, but particularly on the east, you will
find tens of thousands of Amerorchis rotundifolia, small
round-leaved orchis. These are some of the smallest
plants I have ever seen of this species (some no more than
2 or 3 cm tall) and the alternative common name, flyspeck
orchid, seems apt. Small roadside scrapes often yield large
numbers of Malaxis brachypoda, white adder's-mouth.
Numerous other wildflowers that are only found across the
strait in Labrador are also found here. It needn't be a long

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 Brown: TWO WEEKS AND 39 ORCHIDS IN WESTERN
NEWFOUNDLAND

stop, but well worth it.

• From an historical perspective you may want to also
visit L'Anse aux Meadows, site of the first Viking
establishment in North America, at the terminus of
Route 436.

The last area to be suggested is somewhat apart form

all of these. It is Tilt Cove on the Baie Verte peninsula. As
you begin your trek back to southwestern Newfoundland you
may want to revisit the Lomond Trail for later flowering
species and then take Route 1 east and eventually Route 410
north to Baie Verte. Not far from Baie Verte (which has a very
nice hotel and an excellent small mineral museum) is the small
community of Tilt Cove off Route 414. This area is most
unusual as it lies in a serpentine area and where there was
extensive copper mining. The town is at the bottom of a large
basin that opens to the sea to the north. Most of the town is
abandoned now after two major heydays in its history. A few
of the homes are still occupied and a small museum is also
open. But the real attraction her is the presence of Dactylorhiza
praetermissa, southern marsh orchid, a species found
throughout northern Europe. First though to be either an
escape or adventive, the species presence has been traced back
at least 100 years and may be truly native. It occurs in large,
showy clumps on the seepage hillsides throughout the bowl of
the town. Other orchids accompany the marsh orchid and
include Platanthera dilatata, tall white northern bog orchis; P.
aquilonis, northern green bog orchis; P. huronensis, green bog
orchis; and Spiranthes romanzoffiana, hooded ladies'-tresses.
By now your two weeks are coming to a close and you will be
heading south to Corner Brook once more. On your last day
afield driving south towards Port au Basque, watch in the
vicinity of Doyles for roadside meads with hundreds of fringed
orchises. Both purple fringed species, Platanthera grandiflora
large purple fringed orchis and its various forms - forma
albiflora, forma bicolor, forma carnea, forma mentotonsa; P. lacera,

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 Brown: TWO WEEKS AND 39 ORCHIDS IN WESTERN
NEWFOUNDLAND

green fringed orchis or ragged orchis; P. psycodes, small

purple fringed orchis and the forma albiflora, forma ecalcarata,
forma rosea, forma varians and the hybrids P. xandrewsii,
Andrews' hybrid fringed orchis and P. xkeenanii, Keenan's
hybrid fringed orchis are to be found in many roadside areas.
Do not forget to return to Cheeseman Park before you leave
to check on the later flowering species.

Note; Three species are found in restricted areas and are not
particularly easy to locate.
Epipactis helleborine, broad-leaved helleborine, is starting to
show up in some of the more urban areas, particularly around
St. Johns in the east and Corner Brook in the west. Look
around some of the local city parks for this recent visitor from
Europe.
Goodyera oblongifolia, giant rattlesnake orchis, is known from
only one area near Serpentine Lake. It would flower in late
July, but the road in is difficult and often gated. Perhaps you
will be the one to find it elsewhere!
Piperia unalascensis (Platanthera foetida), Alaskan Piperia, was
recently discovered just north of Port aux Choix. This species
is a common plant of western United States with a few
disjunct localities in the upper Great Lakes and on Anticosti
Island as well as the Gaspe region of Quebec. It was not a
great surprise to find it in western Newfoundland.

CHECKLIST OF THE ORCHIDS

OF WESTERN NEWFOUNDLAND
1. Amerorchis rotundifolia
small round-leaved orchis
2. Arethusa bulbosa
dragon's-mouth
forma albiflora
forma subcaerulea
3. Calopogon tuberosus var. tuberosus
common grass-pink
forma albiflorus
4. Calypso bulbosa var. americana

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 Brown: TWO WEEKS AND 39 ORCHIDS IN WESTERN
NEWFOUNDLAND

eastern fairy-slipper
forma albiflora
forma rosea
5. Coeloglossum viride var. viride
northern bracted green orchis
5a. Coeloglossum viride var. virescens
long-bracted green orchis
6. Corallorhiza maculata var. maculata
spotted coralroot
forma flavida
forma rubra
6a. Corallorhiza maculata var. occidentalis
western spotted coralroot
7. Corallorhiza striata var. striata
striped coralroot
8. Corallorhiza trifida
early coralroot
9. Cypripedium acaule
pink lady's-slipper, moccasin flower
forma albiflorum
forma biflorum
10. Cypripedium parviflorum var. makasin
northern small yellow lady's-slipper
10a. Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens
large yellow lady's-slipper
12. Cypripedium reginae
showy lady's-slipper
forma albolabium
13. Dactylorhiza majalis subsp. praetermissa
southern marsh orchid
forma albiflora
14. Epipactis helleborine*
broad-leaved helleborine
15. Goodyera oblongifolia
giant rattlesnake orchis
16. Goodyera repens
lesser rattlesnake orchis
forma ophioides
17. Goodyera tesselata
checkered rattlesnake orchis
18. Gymnadeniopsis clavellata var. ophioglossoides
northern club-spur orchis

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NEWFOUNDLAND

19. Liparis loeselii

Loesel's twayblade, fen orchis
20. Listera auriculata
auricled twayblade
forma trifolia
21. Listera borealis
northern twayblade
forma trifolia
22. Listera convallarioides
broad-lipped twayblade
forma trifolia
24. Listera cordata var. cordata
heart-leaved twayblade
forma disjuncta
forma trifolia
forma viridens
26. Listera xveltmanii
Veltman's twayblade
27. Malaxis brachypoda
white adder's-mouth
forma bifolia
28. Malaxis unifolia
green adder's-mouth
forma bifolia
30. Piperia unalascensis
Alaskan piperia
32. Platanthera aquilonis
northern green bog orchis
34. Platanthera blephariglottis
northern white fringed orchis
forma holopetala
36. Platanthera dilatata var. dilatata
tall white northern bog orchis
38. Platanthera grandiflora
large purple fringed orchis
forma albiflora
forma bicolor
forma carnea
forma mentotonsa
39. Platanthera hookeri
Hooker's orchis
forma abbreviata

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NEWFOUNDLAND

40. Platanthera huronensis

green bog orchis
41. Platanthera lacera
green fringed orchis, ragged orchis
42. Platanthera macrophylla
Goldie's pad-leaved orchis
43. Platanthera obtusata subsp. obtusata
blunt-leaved rein orchis
forma collectanea
forma foliosa
44. Platanthera orbiculata
pad-leaved orchis
forma lehorsii
forma trifolia
46. Platanthera psycodes
small purple fringed orchis
forma albiflora
forma ecalcarata
forma rosea
forma varians
48. Platanthera xandrewsii
Andrews' hybrid fringed orchis
49. Platanthera xkeenanii
Keenan's hybrid fringed orchis
50. Pogonia ophioglossoides
rose pogonia
forma albiflora
51. Pseudorchis straminea
Newfoundland orchis
52. Spiranthes romanzoffiana
hooded ladies'-tresses

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Brown: TWO WEEKS AND 39 ORCHIDS IN WESTERN
NEWFOUNDLAND

Western Newfoundland
8

10

5 5

3
2
1

1. Channel-Port aux Basques

2. Old railroad trail
3. Cheeseman Park
4. Corner Brook
5. Rocky Harbour/Gros Morne
National Park
6. Table Point Ecological Reserve
(Bellburns)
7. Plum Point
8. Burnt Cape (Raleigh)
9. Cape Norman
10. Watts Point Ecological Reserve
11. Tilt Cove
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 Brown: TWO WEEKS AND 39 ORCHIDS IN WESTERN
NEWFOUNDLAND

HOW TO GET THERE-

Via air to Sydney, Nova Scotia: most flights connect there
through Toronto, Ontario.
Vehicle Rental: this is an excellent multi-vendor site for rentals.
http://www.travelnow.com/cars/search.jsp?pageName=carSearc
h&cid=39241&pickUpCity=Sidney,NS,CA&validateCity=true&s
ubmitted=true

Via Marine Atlantic Ferry Service from North Sydney, Nova

Scotia to Channel-Port aux Basques, Newfoundland full
information may be found at their website:
http://www.marine-atlantic.ca/marinee/wheel/index_nav.htm
Where to Stay
Channel-Port aux Basques
http://www.gatewaytonewfoundland.com/accomodations.html#
a variety of accommodations
Corner Brook
http://www.accomodationsweb.com/canada/newfoundland/cor
nerbrook/
many excellent accommodations
Rocky Harbour
Ocean View Hotel
Route 430 North/Deer Lake
Rocky Harbour, Newfoundland
Canada
http://www.travelhero.com/prophome.cfm/id/79704/hotels/res
ervations/index.html
Plum Point
http://www.nfcap.nf.ca/west/PlumPoint/
Plum Point Motel & Cabins
(try to get a cabin if you can as they are excellent and offer two or
three rooms and good kitchen facilities)
Phone: 709-247-2355
Fax: 709-247-2327
Plum Point, NF.
A0K 4A0

21
 Brown: TWO WEEKS AND 39 ORCHIDS IN WESTERN
NEWFOUNDLAND

http://www.nfcap.nf.ca/west/PlumPoint/Motel.htm
Baie Verte/Tilt Cove
http://www.centralnewfoundland.com/bview17.php3
Baie Vista Inn
P.O. Box 84
Baie Verte
Newfoundland, Canada
A0K 1B0
Phone: 709-532-8250
Toll Free: 1-877-532-8250
Fax: 709-532-8033
Email: baie.vista@nf.sympatico.ca

IF YOU GO:
Although it is summer the weather in July is highly variable
from very warm along the southwest coast to cold and possibly
sleet/light snow showers at Cape Norman and it is often very
windy. You need to bring layered clothing and a waterproof jacket
or poncho. At Plum Point Motel there are laundry facilities as well
as a general store nearby. Be sure to fuel up your vehicle each
evening as the gas stations tend not to open early in the
mornings (we have had to wait as late at 10AM to get gas some
mornings!).
It is best to pack a lunch, or have the restaurant do it, as
local restaurants are not easy to find and never seem to be where
you are. The Ocean View Motel in Rocky Harbour and Plum
Point Motel both have superior dining facilities. The little store in
Raleigh (Burnt Cape) has wonderful home made-pies for take out.
Don't miss them.
Two very good eating places along the road are the
Pasadena Family Restaurant in Pasadena just north of Corner
Brook (Pasadena is also an alternative to Corner Brook for
accommodations) and Maynard Motor Inn, PO Box 59, Hawkes
Bay, Newfoundland (709) 248-5225. They also have excellent
accommodations and are about 1 hour south of Plum Point.

22
 Pelchat: SPIRANTHES PARKSII CORRELL – NAVASOTA LADIES’-TRESSES

SPIRANTHES PARKSII CORRELL –

NAVASOTA LADIES’-TRESSES
Reprinted in a slightly different format from North American Native Orchid
Journal 6(4): 268-279. 2000
Cliff Pelchat

Spiranthes parksii, the Navasota ladies’-tresses, is the only

endemic orchid that Texas can claim and it has had an elusive
history since its discovery in 1945, and was first described by
Donovan Stewart Correll, (Correll 1947). In his 1950 book,
Native Orchids of North America North of Mexico, Correll states
that it was discovered in Texas in 1945 and that it had no close
allies in North American orchid flora; "This species has no close allies
in our flora. Its affinity seems to be with several Mexican and Central
American species. It apparently occurs in moist habitat, and blooms in
October." (Correll 1950) The specimens Correll used to describe
the Navasota ladies’-tresses were collected by Haliburton
Braley Parks along the Navasota River (Democratic Bridge) in
Brazos County, (Correll 1947). For the next 30 years H. B. Parks
was the only person to have seen a live specimen of this plant.
Many of the herbarium specimens deposited by H. B. Parks
contain short non-specific descriptions for location (such as
“Democratic Bridge”), which certainly contributed to the
difficulty of locating existing populations of S. parksii. Carlyle
Luer along with Correll searched for the plants on 2 different
occasions without finding them leading him to speculate on their
origin; "The writer has thoroughly searched the type locality, along the
Navasota River in eastern Texas, in two different years, once with Dr.
Correll, but without success. Within a radius of a few miles, three familiar
species of Spiranthes were discovered in flower: S. cernua, S. ovalis, and the
robust Texan S. lacera var. gracilis . . .It is considered unlikely that a
southern relict might survive in the western part of the Coastal Plain and the
Eastern Woodland where no other localized endemic species of orchid is

23
Pelchat: SPIRANTHES PARKSII CORRELL – NAVASOTA LADIES’-TRESSES

1
2

3
4

24
 Pelchat: SPIRANTHES PARKSII CORRELL – NAVASOTA LADIES’-TRESSES

Fig. 1. Blackland Prairies to the west and the

Pineywoods to the east
Fig. 2-3 S. parksii
Fig. 4 S. cernua typical
Fig. 5 S. cernua “cleistapogamic” race
Fig. 6 S. parksii exhibiting peloria
Fig. 7: S. parksii; spike basal rosettes

Photographs by Cliff Pelchat

25
 Pelchat: SPIRANTHES PARKSII CORRELL – NAVASOTA LADIES’-TRESSES

known to occur. However, endemic species of other plants are not

infrequent. Very possibly Spiranthes parksii represents an aberrant or
polyploid form of var. gracilis, or a non-persisting hybrid of var. gracilis and
S. cernua." (Luer 1975) Nevertheless, S. parksii Correll was listed
as endemic to Brazos County, Texas, (Correll 1950) and (Correll
& Johnston 1970). In 1975 it was listed as an Endangered and
Threatened Orchid of the United States, (Ayensu 1975). And, in
1982, it was listed as federally endangered (MacRoberts &
MacRoberts 1997). Throughout the 1980’s and 1990’s it has had
a tendency to become newsworthy such as when it stopped the
expansionof Texas highway 6 in 1983, (Liggio 1999), or when it
became the focus of a conservation effort in 1990 that involved
the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens and the San Antonio Botanical
Gardens, when 500 plants were reproduced for planting back into
the wild, (Houston Chronicle 1990).

Rediscovery
On October 25th, 1978 the Navasota ladies'-tresses was
rediscovered in Brazos county by Paul Catling and K. L.
McIntosh in a Post Oak woodland northwest of the town of
Navasota (Catling and McIntosh 1979). They located 7 plants
along the banks of a temporary stream surrounded by scattered
oaks (post oak, Quercas stellata and blackjack oak, Quercas
marilandica) along with American beauty berry, Callicarpa americana.
Another site with 13 plants was also discovered close by in an
open oak woodland on the banks of another temporary stream.
They reported that Spiranthes parksii occurred both on the tops of
banks in open sand with a sparse cover of grass and on the sides
of banks in the shade of tress and thickets. Since that time it has
been documented in Lee, Leon, Freestone, Grimes, Burleson,
Madison, Robertson, Fayette, Washington and Jasper counties,
(Liggio 1999) and (Bridges and Orzell 1989). The Jasper county
site represents a small disjunct population within the Piney Woods
of Angelina County National Forest in East Texas 170 kilometers

26
 Pelchat: SPIRANTHES PARKSII CORRELL – NAVASOTA LADIES’-TRESSES

east of all other known populations. Recent surveys of the Jasper

County Black Branch Barrens area of the Angelina National
Forest have resulted in finding a few other plants (MacRoberts &
MacRoberts 1997).

Range/Habitat
Spiranthes parksii, with the exception noted above for Jasper
County, inhabits the Post Oak Savannah region of East Texas.
The Post Oak Savannah is a region located northwest and west of
Houston and occupies a space between the Blackland Prairies to
the west and the Piney Woods to the east. To the south the Post
Oak Savannah tapers out and mixes with the Blackland Prairies
habitat, (Figure 1). This unique habitat is made up of an area of
about 8,500,000 acres of gently rolling hills with elevations from
65 to 300 meters above sea level. It receives about 75 to 115 cm
of rainfall annually with the peak rainfall occurring during the
months of May or June. Vegetatively it consists of open fields
dominated by tall grasses and spots of woodlands that are
comprised mostly of post oak, Quercus stellata and blackjack oak.
Quercus marilandica. Soils consist of acid loamy sands in the upland
areas to acid loamy sands and clays in the bottomland areas.
(Correll & Johnston, 1970) The area was extensively cultivated
for grains, vegetables and fruit trees up through the 1940’s.
(Wilson, unpublished) This cultivation may explain the rarity of
S. parksii and the disjunctive nature of some of the populations.

Within this range Spiranthes parksii is found mostly along

drainage areas that represent naturally disturbed areas through the
post oak woodlands leading to the Navasota River and is rarely if
ever found in unnaturally disturbed areas such as roadsides,
power-line right of ways or open fields (Wilson, unpublished).
When I first began searching for this plant I looked in the open
grassy areas near woods and along drainages areas [outside of
woods] as described by others and as noted on herbarium sheets,
e.g. Texas International Speedway. Though I found some plants,
mostly at the beginning of drainage areas from the grassy fields

27
 Pelchat: SPIRANTHES PARKSII CORRELL – NAVASOTA LADIES’-TRESSES

leading into woodlands and adjacent to the edge of woods along

hiking trails the most plants were found within the woods on the
banks of the natural drainage ditches. This observation confirms
that Spiranthes parksii does not typically inhabit open areas or areas
disturbed by man. Today S. parksii is well documented growing in
the Navasota region and one especially good and accessible
(because it is not private property) location is Lick Creek Park
located in College Station. I have observed it growing in this park
along the banks of drainage streams and at the mouth of these
drainage areas leading from the open grassy areas of the Post Oak
Savannah. I have also observed it growing on the margins of the
wooded forest near drainage ditches where hiking trails have been
formed. This habitat lies in close proximity to Texas A & M
University and Dr. Hugh Wilson, from the University, undertook
a detailed study of S. parksii. Unfortunately this study was
brought to an abrupt halt by the expansion of a recreational bike
path.

Morphology
The genus Spiranthes is highly variable from the
morphological point of view and, at times, it is difficult to
differentiate between species in the field. The problem of field
identification is compounded for the species S. parksii because it
blooms at the same time and in the same range as two other
species, S. cernua (L.) L.C. Richard and S. lacera Raf. var. gracilis
(Bigel.) Luer, and is found in similar habitat as S. cernua mixed in
with blooming populations. However, once one establishes a
pattern of identification there is no mistaking S. parksii for either
S. cernua or S. lacera var. gracilis, though there are some plants that
seem to be intermediate between S. parksii and S. cernua and these
are not easily resolved in the field. While photographing these
plants with a 105mm macro lens many of the characters described
by Correll (Correll 1947 and 1950) are apparent. The line drawing
by G. Dillon that accompanies Correll’s description is extremely
accurate, and looks as if it was drawn form a live specimen rather
then an herbarium sheet.

28
 Pelchat: SPIRANTHES PARKSII CORRELL – NAVASOTA LADIES’-TRESSES

The plants I have observed are from 21 cm to 25 cm tall

with the flowers taking up the top 7 cm - 8 cm of the spike (Fig.
2). They are in 4 ranked coils of 14 to 30 flowers that spiral
counterclockwise looking down on the top of the plant. The
plants tend to have the flowers concentrated more at the top of
the rachis twisting, generally, in a CCW direction forming 4 ranks
giving the rachis a symmetrical appearance. In contrast S. lacera
var. gracilis tends to have a single rank forming a long spiral to the
top for most of the length of the rachis. There are no leaves
present at anthesis, but I have observed the leaves of plants in the
springtime and they form basal rosettes of 2 to 3 lance like elliptic
shaped leaves (Fig. 7). It should be noted that I find the number,
size and dimensions of leaves for Spiranthes spp. to be quite
variable depending on the time of year observed, the amount of
moisture present and apparently the amount of nutrients in the
soil. Plants of S. vernalis grown in pots and fed high nitrogen
fertilizer have produced over 8 large grass like leaves along with
one large bract like leaf on the spike that have sustained through
anthesis compared to the 4 to 5 often observed in the field.
These observations suggest that identification of S. parksii based
on vegetative characteristics of the rosettes is highly unlikely
unless the plants were specifically marked while in bloom.

The flowers and most of the rachis are covered in a fine

pubescence, the apex of which is tipped with a ball or club. The
same pubescence is found on S. cernua but S. lacera var. gracilis is
essentially glabrous. The characteristically obovate petals, (Correll
1947), are also easily seen in the field through the lens of the
camera or with a 10x loupe. The lip is presented in such away
that the apex has a cleft and the center leading inward to the
column is padded on each side and creamy yellow in color, (this
coloring is also described by Catling & McIntosh 1979). The
margins of the lip are ragged and tooth like or in botanical terms
dentate compared to the crenulate (scalloped or round toothed)
and undulate (wavy) appearance of S. cernua. Small pubescent

29
 Pelchat: SPIRANTHES PARKSII CORRELL – NAVASOTA LADIES’-TRESSES

hairs can be observed in the throat of the corolla formed by the

lip, dorsal sepal and petals, (Figure 3). The distinctive oval shape
of the petals (Correll 1947) can be seen, in the field, under close
observation with a loupe or through the lens of a camera. The
floral bract is white tipped which is often referred to as a single
identifying characteristic of this orchid, but (in this authors
experience) cannot in itself be used as a single characteristic for
identification because S. cernua can also show a tendency for
whitening of the floral bracts. Overall the flower shape is quite
distinctive in that it appears to be short and fat. When viewed
from the side, the flower from the ovary to the tip of the dorsal
sepal forms an arch giving the flower a humped shape in relation
to its length and width and extends horizontally from the rachis
instead of drooping or nodding as in the case of S. cernua. The
dorsal sepal extends just beyond the petals, curls upward at the
apex, and has a cleft at the apex. The lateral sepals hug the corolla
tightly and look like 2 upturned horns following the lines of the
upturned apex of the dorsal sepal and extending a little beyond it.
The flower coloring is white with variations from creamy yellow
to white in the center of the lip and yellow to light green coloring
running through the petals from the base to the midpoint.

In the same location and blooming simultaneously, as

mentioned above, with Spiranthes parksii is S. cernua, (Fig. 4).
These plants include examples of the sexual and asexual apomictic
types, along with peloric forms as well as the “cleistapogamic”
characteristic referred to by C. Sheviak, (Sheviak, 1982) (Fig. 5). I
have also observed examples of S. parksii that appear to be
apomictic, and exhibit some peloria, (Fig. 6). These plants have
monstrous looking flowers that are tightly closed with the lip
barely protruding pointing straight up parallel with the axis of the
stem. On some of the flowers the lateral sepals are at an angle
away from the corolla and many of the unopened flowers below
at the bottom of the spike are already withering while the ovaries
are swelling. Another most unusual characteristic was the almost
completely white floral bracts. Close examination of these

30
 Pelchat: SPIRANTHES PARKSII CORRELL – NAVASOTA LADIES’-TRESSES

revealed fine green striping running lengthwise to the apex, but

they were mostly white. I have observed the same white coloring
in the ovaries of peloric forms of S. cernua. I have also observed
plants that seem to be intermediate between S. cernua and S. parksii
in that they have the general appearance of S. parksii with regards
to general flower shape, presentation of the lateral sepals and
white tipped floral bracts, however the lip margin is much more
undulate and the lateral sepals are not as closely pressed to the
corolla. C. Sheviak noted that S. parksii is linked to the S. cernua
complex “by its reproductive mode and some morphological characteristics
and indeed is likely related” (Sheviak 1982). I believe that further,
more detailed, studies of S. parksii are required to understand its
standing within the S. cernua complex and will lead to a clearer
understanding of the origin of this plant.
Conservation
Earlier in this article I made mention of Lick Creek Park
and the bike trails that destroyed the on going study being
conducted by Hugh Wilson from the Texas A & M University. In
this case the community of College Station wanted recreational
mountain bike trails and the best habitat for this type of recreation
happens to be prime habitat for Spiranthes parksii – humans 1,
orchids 0. Repeated attempts by Hugh Wilson to have the area
set aside as a preservation area fell on deaf ears, both at the
community level and the national level, e.g. the Federal
Government and the Nature Conservancy. Even Texas Highway
6 was allowed to proceed through prime S. parksii habitat once a
so called mitigation plan, involving a preservation area now
referred to as a weed lot, (Wilson unpublished), was built –
humans 2, orchids 0. The most disturbing example of habitat
destruction for S. parksii, however, is the clear cutting of trees in
documented S. parksii habitat (remember it is essentially a
woodland orchid) for the purpose of building the giant Texas
A&M bonfire in the name of tradition and school spirit – humans
3, orchids 0, they [the orchids] are out! In 1994 Hugh Wilson
made repeated attempts to save this habitat from destruction,
both to the Texas A&M University administration, and to the

31
 Pelchat: SPIRANTHES PARKSII CORRELL – NAVASOTA LADIES’-TRESSES

Director, Office of Endangered Species for the U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Services. Of course all of the habitat destruction is well
within the boundaries of the law and perfectly legal, but one has
to question the ethical ramifications and hypocrisy of this
situation. Ironically the only true protection of S. parksii is being
afforded by the Texas Municipal Power Authority, (TMPA), as a
result of strip-mining operations on leased land. This protection
will also disappear as the mining operations wind down and the
land leases expire removing them from the stewardship of the
TMPA.
Summary
Spiranthes parksii is an interesting and unusual orchid. It is
interesting because it has a limited range and therefore can teach
us much about the conservation of orchid species as we continue
to study its habitats. The general observations of the Lick Creek
Park populations show that there are similarities between S. parksii
and S. cernua and indicate that further more detailed studies will
result in a better understanding of this relationship. Finally, I
hope that greater awareness of this orchid and others like it will
lead to better conservation efforts on the part of individuals that
will insure that all of the natural wonders around us are available
to future generations.

References:
Ayenus, E.S. 1975. Endangered and Threatened Orchids of the United
States. Amer Orchid Society Bulletin 44(5): 384 – 394
Catling, P. M. and K. L. McIntosh. 1979. SIDA 8(2): 188-193
Correll, D. S. 1950. Native Orchids Of North America North Of Mexico.
Waltham, Ma. Chronica Botanica
Correll, D. S. 1947. A new Spiranthes from Texas Amer. Orchid Society Bull.
16:400
Correll, D. S. and Johnston, M. C. 1970. Manual of The Vascular Plants of Texas.
Texas Research Foundation,1970.
Bridges, E. L. & S. L. Orzell 1989. Additions and noteworthy Vascular Plant
collections from Texas and Louisiana, with historical, ecological and
geographical notes. Phytologia 66: 12-69
Houston Chronicle 1990, Kathy Huber. Lab Gardeners Try To Thwart
Orchid Pirates. Houston Chronicle, Saturday 2/10/1990, P.1, 2 Start edition.

32
 Pelchat: SPIRANTHES PARKSII CORRELL – NAVASOTA LADIES’-TRESSES

Liggio, J. and Liggio A.O. 1999. Wild Orchids of Texas. University of Texas
Press, 1999.
Luer, C. A. 1975. The Native Orchids of The United States and Canada Excluding
Florida. New York Botanical garden, New York.
Evans, Robert E. and MacRoberts, Michael H. and Barbara R. 1997. Notes
On Spiranthes parksii Correll (Orchidaceae) Deep In East Texas. Phytologia,
83(3) September 1997: 133-137
Sheviak, C. J. 1982. Biosystematic Study of the Spiranthes cernua Complex.
New York State Museum Bulletin No. 448 1982.
Wilson, H. D. unpublished. Spiranthes Parksii - Endangered Orchid of the Texas
Post Oak Savannah, Texas A & M Website.

Cliff Pelchat, 2900 Farmington Circle, Edmond, OK 73003; cplechat@cox.net

EDITOR’S UPDATE:
Cliff also published two additional articles in the McAllen International
Orchid Journal about Spiranthes parksii.
Spiranthes parksii. McAllen International Orchid Society Journal 6(3): 9-15. 2005.
Spiranthes parksii – additions to last issue’s article. McAllen International Orchid
Society Journal 6(4): 9. 2005.

33
 Empiricist: JEWELS IN THE MOST UNLIKELY PLACES

JEWELS IN THE MOST UNLIKELY PLACES

The Slow Empiricist

It is not true that orchids are fragile hothouse plants for

they occur all over the world from beyond the Arctic Circle south
to nearly Antarctica! And if the melting going on there continues
they may eventually pop up there.
So, if they are so widespread and seemingly hardy why are
they rare, threatened and endangered? There are lots of reasons
from man’s constant expansion into orchid habitat to extremes in
the particular orchids’ natural range with southern species
reaching the limit of their ability to survive further north of their
range. Weather also plays its part with drought years cutting into
survival and reproduction (although orchids often go dormant in
dry years to bloom exuberantly in normal or wetter years). Some
orchids are fire respondent and also bide their time until a wild
fire or controlled burn eliminates the competing flora so they can
bring forth a large blooming population.
Back to the overarching question if orchids are so
widespread and seemingly hardy where are they hiding? Where are
these unlikely places where one can find an orchid?
Having traveled extensively in the United States and
Canada there is one enormous habitat that is sprinkled liberally
with many species of orchids. Quite simply it is along the
roadsides themselves that many orchids find a home. Spiranthes,
ladies-tresses, are particularly happy in that kind of habitat. They
like open sunny locations that are mowed to keep down

34
 Empiricist: JEWELS IN THE MOST UNLIKELY PLACES

competition. Some like to nestle up nearer the hedgerow for some

shade or shelter, others like to grow in the damper ditches.

Sacoila lanceolata, the leafless

beaked orchid growing along a
roadside in Levy County, Florida

35
 Empiricist: JEWELS IN THE MOST UNLIKELY PLACES

Not only Spiranthes, but Platanthera, the fringed and rein

orchises, Calopogon, many of the grass pinks, Sacoila, the leafless
beaked orchid, and even some species of Listera and Liparis, the
twayblades, like the roadsides’ expanses for a home.
I have seen the following growing along the highway, often
in mixed colonies:
• Florida and the southeast:
Sacoila (FL), Calopogon, Platanthera, Spiranthes, Gymnadeniopsis
• Northeast:
Spiranthes, Pogonia. Gymnadeniopsis, Epipactis, Platanthera, and
even pink lady’s-slippers!
• Northwest:
Spiranthes, Platanthera, Piperia, a stray Calypso and mountain
lady’s-slippers
The prairies of southern Manitoba amazed us with plants
of Platanthera praeclara, the western prairie fringed orchis,
extending from the prairies into the roadside shoulders and
ditches, often with the green rein orchises, Platanthera huronensis
and P. aquilonis. So much of what you see in both Newfoundland
and Alaska are roadside plants, in part because there are so few
roads to the interior that the main roads are where you tend to be!
Some even stranger places I’ve seen orchids growing along
the highway were Spiranthes casei, Case’s ladies-tresses, growing in
rip rap in Vermont, Listera borealis, northern twayblade, growing
in the gravel parking lot in Alberta near Lake Louise and Calypso
bulbosa var. occidentalis, western calypso, in northern California
growing under the redwoods right along and nearly within the
road!
Another unlikely habitat occurs at high elevations where
the weather can be harsh and unforgiving but in the mountain
meadows or tucked into small sheltered depressions on
windswept heights orchids find a niche! I have seen the rattail
adder’s-mouth orchids, Malaxis soulei, in August in the Huachuca
Mountain heights in Arizona and Cypripedium montanum, mountain
lady’s-slippers, gracing the roadsides in Radium Hot Springs,

36
 Empiricist: JEWELS IN THE MOST UNLIKELY PLACES

British Columbia. In the Olympics of western Washington the

Alaskan orchid, Piperia unalascensis, grows in a dwarf form (forma
olympica) and down in Port Angles roadsides abound with up to
five species of Piperia!
Old cemeteries that don’t get mowed frequently have
habitats that invite orchids to colonize them. New England is rich
with small cemeteries that yield the ardent explorer with
handsome rewards. One such cemetery in Connecticut has
Spiranthes lacera var. gracilis, southern slender ladies’-tresses, and
several hybrids as well as S. vernalis, grass-leaved ladies’-tresses,
flowering in mid-August.
You don’t always need a neglected old cemetery to find an
orchid jewel. Florida has a cemetery where dancing lady orchids.
Tolumnia bahamense, grows in the undeveloped areas. It is here the
Florida rosemary bushes afford the orchid an opportunity to
climb and flower with charming cascades of butterfly-like
blossoms. They appear to be doing a stately gavotte in the gentle
breeze.
Sometimes vacant lots or abandoned housing
developments offer orchids the right conditions to seed in
although more often the orchids have been destroyed by the
clearing and bulldozing. Those orchids that are successional may
take up residences as nature reclaims the area. A borrow pit in
southern New Hampshire that was cleared for a golf driving range
that failed is filled with grass pinks, Calopogon tuberosus, and rose
pogonia, Pogonia ophioglossoides, and a few northern tubercled
orchids, Platanthera flava var. herbiola, are starting to show up. Of
course, several species of Spiranthes are found throughout the pit
habitat. Succession is claiming the area though and poplars,
willows, and other trees have seeded in as nature reforests the
clearing chasing out the orchids. In housing developments that
never materialized in California and Washington, and Florida we
have found orchids in the ditches as well as the vacant lots.
Florida yielded wild coco, Eulophia alta, water-spider orchids,
Habenaria repens, and a variety of Spiranthes of course. Wet ditches
in otherwise dry areas in California had Epipactis gigantea,

37
 Empiricist: JEWELS IN THE MOST UNLIKELY PLACES

chatterbox, and Washington State yielded a race of Spiranthes

romanzoffiana, hooded ladies’-tresses, growing in vacant lots near
Sequim.
Lastly, don’t be afraid to explore in your own back yard.
We have found many orchids within a mile of our winter home in
Florida. All you have to do is look and be open to the possibilities
that an orchid might be there. There have even been records of
orchids coming up in the crack in the cement sidewalks where the
broad-leaved helleborine, Epipactis helleborine, can be quite at home.
With an open mind and a keen eye you might just find a few
jewels of your own! Good Exploring!
Your Slow Empiricist

Stan Folsom with a roadside colony of Spiranthes ochroleuca in

southern Nova Scotia

38
 SOME NORTH AMERICAN ORCHID FACTOIDS

SOME NORTH AMERICAN ORCHID

FACTOIDS
(Updated for August 2006)

Did You Know????

There are 210 species plus an additional 3 subspecies and 24

varieties of native orchids found in North America north of
Mexico for a total of 237?
(Note: Opinions will always vary as to the precise number as
different orchidists view species differently. The old lumpers vs.
the splitters! This number takes the more open approach and
embraces as many species as have been described. From a very
conservative standpoint the number might be reduced to 234).

We also have 14+ non-native or alien species that have been

documented as naturalized, introduced, escaped, waifs, etc.
Of these only 6 are truly naturalized and reproducing in
populations in the wild.
• Cyrtopodium polyphyllum southern Florida
• Epipactis helleborine much of the temperate United States and sparingly
in Canada
• Listera ovata southern Ontario
• Oeceoclades maculata southern and central Florida
• Spathoglottis plicata southern Florida
• Zeuxine strateumatica southeastern United States
Both Dactylorhiza species founding Ontario and Newfoundland are of
questionable origin.

For the combined total of 251 species, subspecies, and varieties that have
been found growing in the wild in the North America north of Mexico plus
more than 200 named color and growth forms:

112 species are found only in the US and Canada

39
 SOME NORTH AMERICAN ORCHID FACTOIDS

Four NEW orchids in North America

Corallorhiza maculata var. ozettensis Piperia yadonii
San Juan Islands, WA-Chelsea Kieffer Monterey Co., CA – Brad Kelley
Spiranthes casei var. novaescotiae Malaxis wendtii
Yarmouth Co., NS – P.M. Brown Brewster Co. TX – C. Pelchat

40
 SOME NORTH AMERICAN ORCHID FACTOIDS

The most recently discovered species new to the US is Microthelys

rubrocallosa 2004 in Arizona

Of this total 22 have been described as new species in the past 25

years.
• Calopogon oklahomensis D.H.
Goldman
• Corallorhiza bentleyi
Freudenstein
• Cypripedium kentuckiense C.F.
Reed
• Deiregyne confusa Garay
• Epidendrum floridense Hágsater
• Galeandra bicarinata G.A.
Romero & P.M. Brown.
• Govenia floridana P.M. Brown
• Malaxis abieticola Salazar &
Soto Arenas
• Malaxis wendtii Salazar
• Piperia candida Morgan &
Ackerman
• Piperia colemanii Morgan &
Glicenstein
• Piperia yadonii R. Morgan & J.
Ackerman
• Platanthera pallida P.M. Brown
• Platanthera praeclara Sheviak &
Bowles
• Platanthera tescamnis Sheviak &
Jennings
• Platanthera zothecina (Higgins &
Welsh) Kartesz & Gandhi
• Schiedeella arizonica P.M. Brown
• Spiranthes delitescens Sheviak
• Spiranthes diluvialis Sheviak
• Spiranthes eatonii Ames ex P.M.
Brown
• Spiranthes infernalis Sheviak
• Spiranthes sylvatica P.M. Brown

Also 8 new varieties have been described or revalidated at the varietal level
Corallorhiza maculata (Rafinesque) Rafinesque var. ozettensis E. Tisch
Corallorhiza odontorhiza (Willdenow) Nuttall var. pringlei (Greenman) Freudenstein
Cypripedium parviflorum Salisbury var. makasin (Farwell) Sheviak
Hexalectris spicata (Walter) Barnhardt var. arizonica (S. Watson) Catling & Engel
Epidendrum magnoliae Mühlenberg var. mexicanum (L.O. Williams) P.M. Brown
Piperia elegans (Lindley) Rydberg subsp. decurtata Morgan & Glicenstein
Spiranthes casei Catling & Cruise var. novaescotiae Catling
Spiranthes ovalis Lindley var. erostellata Catling
Triphora trianthophora (Swartz) Rydberg var. texensis P.M. Brown & R. Pike

28 new hybrids have been described in the past 25 years including:

• Cleistes xochlockoneensis P.M. Brown • Cypripedium xalaskanum P.M.
Brown

41
 SOME NORTH AMERICAN ORCHID FACTOIDS

• Cypripedium xcolumbianum Sheviak • Platanthera xkeenanii P.M. Brown

• Cypripedium xherae Ewacha &
Sheviak
• Liparis xjonesii S. Bentley
• Listera xveltmanii Case
• Platanthera xapalachicola P.M.
Brown & S. Stewart
• Platanthera xandrewsii (Niles) Luer
• Platanthera xbeckneri P.M. Brown
• Platanthera xbicolor (Rafinesque)
Luer
• Platanthera xcanbyi (Ames) Luer
• Platanthera xchannellii Folsom
• Platanthera xcorrellii Schrenck
• Platanthera xestesii Schrenck
• Platanthera xhollandiae Catling &
Brownell
• Platanthera xlassenii Schrenk
• Platanthera xlueri P.M. Brown
• Platanthera xosceola P.M. Brown &
S. Stewart
• Platanthera xreznicekii Catling,
Brownell & G. Allen
• xPlatanthopsis vossii Case
• Spiranthes xborealis P.M. Brown
• Spiranthes xeamesii P.M. Brown
• Spiranthes xfolsomii P.M. Brown
• Spiranthes xitchetuckneensis P.M.
Brown
• Spiranthes xintermedia Ames
• Spiranthes xmeridionalis P.M. Brown
• Spiranthes xsimpsonii Catling &
Sheviak

Florida, not surprisingly, has the most species that are restricted to 1 state (73).

Apart from non-natives other states, provinces, and countries in North

America north of Mexico that have species, subspecies, or varieties restricted to
just that state or province are:
New York 1
• Platanthera pallida ENDEMIC
California 4
• Piperia colemanii ENDEMIC
• P. leptopetala ENDEMIC
• P. michaelii ENDEMIC
• P. elegans subsp. decurtata ENDEMIC
• P. yadonii ENDEMIC
Nevada 1
• Spiranthes infernalis ENDEMIC
Arizona 4
• Corallorhiza maculata var. mexicana
• Hexalectris revoluta var. colemanii ENDEMIC
• Malaxis corymbosa
• Microthelys rubrocallosa
• Spiranthes delitescens ENDEMIC
New Mexico
• 1 Platanthera brevifolia
Texas 7

425
 SOME NORTH AMERICAN ORCHID FACTOIDS

• Deiregyne confusa
• Dichromanthus cinnabarinus
• Hexalectris grandiflora
• H. revoluta var. revoluta
• Malaxis wendtii
• Spiranthes parksii ENDEMIC
• Triphora trianthophora var. texensis ENDEMIC
Alaska 5
• Cypripedium yatabeanum
• Dactylorhiza aristata var. aristata
• Dactylorhiza aristata var. kodiakensis
• Platanthera tipuloides var. behringiana
• Platanthera chorisiana
Nova Scotia 1
• Spiranthes casei var. novaescotiae ENDEMIC
Greenland 1
• Platanthera hyperborea ENDEMIC?

The most recently ‘rediscovered’ species in the US are:

• Deiregyne confusa 2004 Texas
• Ponthieva brittoniae 2004 Florida
• Pelexia adnata 2004 Florida
• Cranichis muscosa 2004 Florida

436
 Folsom: A CASE FOR EVOLUTION

A CASE FOR EVOLUTION

Stan Folsom

Charles Darwin based his theory of evolution on

observations of living things that have evolved and adapted to the
changes that have occurred in their environment. He labeled this
process as survival of the fittest. Orchids help to bear out
Darwin’s tenets (Darwin, 1859, 1962).
Orchids have been around as long as mankind and most
likely well before that and although they are not well known from
the fossil record. They are considered the most advanced form of
flora on the planet with many varied adaptations that have helped
them survive. They have met the changes that have occurred on
this planet since they first appeared in the prime evil landscape in
clever ways to ensure their survival. Orchids are continuing to
evolve as they adapt to fit the conditions they encounter today.
Orchids have seen the world change mightily over the
millennia of their existence. Whole areas of the landmasses
underwent massive alterations as lush, verdant areas gave way to
encroaching deserts when weather patterns changed. Mountains
pushed up in former plains and seas receded. Ice ages and
cataclysmic events like gigantic volcanic eruptions or giant
meteors striking the earth wrought havoc with living things. Yet
orchids have endured and through adaptation have grown to over
30,000 species and spread to the four corners of the world.
This paper explores some of the techniques orchids have
used to maintain their viability on Earth. We will examine some of

44
 Folsom: A CASE FOR EVOLUTION

the mechanisms and strategies that North American orchids have

developed to cope with these events that have changed their
world.
Let us examine the pollinization processes that orchids
have devised to ensure their survival. This process has evolved to
be very specific in many orchid species. They have unique
techniques and attract only certain agents of pollination.
As everyone knows orchids have 3 sepals and 3 petals with
the stamen(s) and pistil fused into a column. The three petals
consist of two lateral petals and the third petal is formed into a lip.
The lip acts as both an attractant and landing platform for many
pollinators. The many genera and species of orchids have lips in
varying size, shape, and colors that entice many kinds of
pollinators including butterflies, moths, bees, wasps, flies, and
gnats, to name a few. Some orchids use scent, often at a specific
time of day or night, to attract the pollinators, others brilliant
color, and still others dynamic patterns. Many botanists have
watched orchids hoping to discover the actual pollinators or kinds
of actions that were required to ensure fertilization. Roger
Hammer, of Homestead, Florida, spent several nights in the
Fakahatchee Swamp to observe the giant nocturnal moth that
pollinates the ghost orchid, Dendrophylax lindenii (Hammer, 1996).
Calopogons are constructed in
such a way that their lip is
uppermost. With the lip in this
position when the heavy bee
pollinator attaches itself to the
attractive yellow beard (a false
pollen) it snaps down with the bee’s
weight and deposits the pollen
brought from the bee’s visit to
another blossom into contact with
the flower’s stigmatic surface, therefore effecting pollination.
Some species even allow rain, by assisting the transfer of the
pollen, to act as the agent for pollination (Catling, 1980).

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 Folsom: A CASE FOR EVOLUTION

Habenaria macroceratitis and H. quinqueseta have evolved so

that they have long spurs that yield a reward for the long
proboscis of its moth pollinators much as in the situation with the
ghost orchid. The fringed orchids (Platanthera spp.) of North
America are also pollinated in this manner ensuring their survival.
Some orchids have developed the ability to self-pollinate.
This way they do not have to rely on the presence of an outside
agent such as a moth, fly, or bee to effect their fertilization.
Genera such as Spiranthes and Corallorhiza have species that have
evolved to the point that they do not even need to have their
flowers open to achieve fertilization. This
mechanism is called cleistogamy—or fertilized
within the bud. Other species of orchids and, yes
there are other plants
out there too, such as
dandelions, Taraxacum
officinale, are apomictic
– developing seed
without any agent of
pollination and plants
often are lacking in
one or more of their
critical sexual organs
such as a rostellum
C. odontorhiza and the ovaries
with
cleistogamous
develop into
flowers embryos and the
plants actually clone
themselves. This process often occurs
in species that have originated from
ancient hybridization and involve
many species in their ancestral
parentage.
Orchids have also devised
means for survival through clever
strategies like lying dormant for years
P. ciliaris

46
 Folsom: A CASE FOR EVOLUTION

when growing conditions are not suitable. Some have become

dependent on calamity to continue their existence. Wild fires,
landslides, tornados and hurricanes all play their part in destroying
natural areas but the fire-respondent and successional species of
orchids have learned to take advantage of these opportunities to
repopulate an area.
Orchid seeds are hardy as well as being able to remain
dormant for some years, as they have been discovered in the
upper stratosphere. Some tropical species, especially in places like
Florida, are hardy enough so that they withstand freezes that
destroy the plants but not their seeds which seem to have the
ability to lodge in protective niches and survive. The Christmas
Day freeze of 1989 in Florida took out entire colonies of tropical
orchids but as of 2005 new young plants are growing in the areas
where their parents used to exist suggesting that the seeds can
withstand colder temperatures.
Some orchids have developed in special niches to ensure
their survival. Spiranthes sylvatica prefers shady hedgerows while
others prefer damp seep habitats. Some have adapted to wet
conditions forming mats on streams or growing in wet bogs.
Then there are those that have taken to the trees and many
have developed pseudobulbs to store water. Some, such as the
ghost orchid and harrisella, are leafless and when out of flower are
virtually invisible to predators.
Hybridization between orchid species is another form of
insurance for survival if the new plants breed true in future
generations. Scientist can now examine the DNA and determine
the gene flow from the parents. They can also ascertain the new
plants’ status as diploid or polyploid. Sheviak (1982, 1991) has
done much of this work on North American species and has
clarified the status of several species especially in the genera
Spiranthes and Platanthera..

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 Folsom: A CASE FOR EVOLUTION

Casual observation can often notice

differences in related species. Spiranthes
cernua—a compilospecies—show gene
flow or influence, from the basic diploid
species that are found within its range. In
the Northeast, Spiranthes cernua shows a
marked influence of S. ochroleuca and in the
Midwest of S. magnicamporum. Spiranthes
diluvialis, an allotetraploid species derived
from S. magnicamporum and S. romanzoffiana
has evolved into a solid, wide-ranging
species that although still rare, often
occurs now where neither ancestral parent
may be found (Sheviak, 1984).
Lastly, alien species have arrived
whether having been borne in on storm
winds or hitchhiking a ride in cargo from
far off lands or brought to our shores as a
garden plant. An example in Florida is
Zeuxine, the lawn orchid, our only annual
orchid, and has seeded in all over the place
but does not drive out native species.
Zeuxine has been documented to have
arrived in lawn seed from the Far East in
the 1920s. Another example would be
Oeceoclades maculata, the African spotted
orchid with its beautiful mottled leaves.
This species started to appear about 25
years ago and has now insinuated itself S. diluvialis
through central and southern Florida. It is
assumed it first arrived as wind-borne seed from Africa and has
also colonized several islands in the Caribbean. Further north
Epipactis helleborine, the broad-leaved helleborine, has been known
in North America for more than a century after it was first seen
near Syracuse, New York. It is now found throughout most of
temperate North America and shows a decided fondness for

48
 Folsom: A CASE FOR EVOLUTION

calcareous habitats and even in the cracks of the sidewalks in

Boston! Dactylorhiza found in Ontario and Newfoundland present
another problem in that although the species are European in
their primary distribution. Their arrival in northern North
America has not been documented and as they are in similar
habitats as in northern Europe their alien status is unsure.
Orchids are still evolving and meeting the conditions of
their environment. There are orchids that have adapted to
mowing and consistently bloom on spikes that stay below the
mowers blades. Orchids have seeded into human areas where they
can find the right conditions such as the lime leaching from
cement sidewalks and roadways. They are traveling on hurricanes,
in cargoes from other countries, along railways and roadways as
they seed into new places.
Whatever the process, however, North American orchids
have proven they are survivors and will hopefully be around for
many more millennia to come. The prospect invites conjecture as
to what new and exciting forms will evolve in the future.

Literature Cited:
Catling, P. M. 1980. Rain-assisted autogamy in Liparis loeselii (L.) L. C. Rich.
(Orchidaceae). Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club107:525-529.
Darwin, C. 1859. On the origin of species by means of natural selection. London. John
Murray. [1st edn].
-------. 1862. On the various contrivances by which British and foreign orchids are
fertilised by insects. London. John Murray.
Hammer, R. 1996. A Week in the Fakahatchee. Orchids. 65(3): 252-261.
Sheviak, C. J. 1982. Biosystematic study of the Spiranthes cernua
complex. Bull. New York State Mus. Sci. Serv. 448.
------. 1984. Spiranthes diluvialis (Orchidaceae), a new species from the
western United States. Brittonia 36: 8–14.
------. 1991. Morphological variation in the compilospecies Spiranthes
cernua (L.) L.C. Rich.: Ecologically-limited effects of gene flow.
Lindleyana 6: 228–234.

Stan Folsom, 10896 SW 90th Terrace, Ocala, FL 34481.

Stan has written numerous articles for the NANOJ and is a fine artist
whose work is found in the series of orchid field guides co-authored with
Paul Martin Brown.

49